Windshield wiper, especially for a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention starts with a windshield wiper device ( 10 ), in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one drive element ( 16 ) that can be fastened to the vehicle body ( 26 ) and that has a driven shaft ( 28 ) and at least two axially rigid fastening elements ( 22 ), which engage in receiving openings ( 24 ) on the vehicle body ( 26 ) and are provided with at least one damping element ( 76, 90, 96 ) for damping mechanical vibrations. It is proposed that the damping elements ( 76, 90, 96 ) are fastening blocks made of a rubber-elastic material and are fastened to the drive element ( 16 ), that said damping elements are provided with slots ( 78 ) and are arranged in such a manner that they can be inserted in a first assembly direction ( 64 ) in the receiving openings ( 24 ) and prompted by a movement in a second assembly direction ( 32 ) transverse to the first direction the damping elements reach across the first edge ( 88 ) of the receiving opening ( 24 ) with a slot ( 78 ), and that a locking element ( 30, 52, 66, 80, 92, 98 ) secures the final position in the second assembly direction ( 32 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention starts with a windshield wiper device, in particular for amotor vehicle.

Numerous windshield wiper devices for motor vehicles that have a driveelement, which is fastened to the vehicle body, are already known.Typically, these types of drive element are permanently screwed onto thevehicle body, which, however, is very expensive and requires a lot ofparts like screws, screw nuts and washers, etc. This is logisticallyexpensive as well as complex in terms of installation. In addition, awindshield wiper device is known from DE 100 62 617 A 1, which is gluedin place in the motor vehicle, wherein the adhesive features dampingproperties.

A windshield wiper system for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, isknown from DE 198 33 404 A1, which makes screw-free and thus simple andquick assembly possible. For this purpose, the windshield wiper devicehas a support construction for a drive device. Provided on thesupporting structure is a number of first fastening elements, whichproject out from the supporting structure in a first direction.Projecting in a second direction, which runs at an angle between 45 and135° to the first angle, preferably at an angle of 90°, are a number ofsecond fastening elements. The fastening elements are embodied ascylindrical plug pins, which are connected to the supporting structurewith one end and with their free end are inserted into a receivingopening of a rubber-elastic damping element. This damping element isinserted into an assembly opening of the vehicle body. The assemblyopening can be situated in an angled or deep-drawn bracket, which iswelded onto the vehicle body. The free end of the plug pin canpreferably have a conical thickening in order to fix said plug pin inthe damping element by locking. Since the assembly directions of thefirst and second fastening elements run under one angle, this does notpreclude the supporting structure from being under tension afterassembly, which is transferred to adjacent parts of the vehicle body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the damping elements are dampening blocksmade of a rubber-elastic material. They are fastened on the driveelement and are arranged in such a manner that they can be inserted in afirst assembly direction in the receiving openings and prompted by amovement in a second assembly direction transverse to the firstdirection the damping elements reach across the first edge of thereceiving opening with slots. The slots of all fastening blocks and thereceiving openings lie in a plane or in planes, which are offsetparallel to one another in the first assembly direction. The fasteningblocks with their slots hold the drive element securely in the receivingopenings, while a locking element secures the final position of thefastening blocks in the second assembly direction and thereby preventsthe fastening blocks from being able to move back after assembly in thesecond assembly direction and disengaging. The receiving opening can beformed directly by an opening in the body panel or in a holder, which ismounted on the body panel, e.g., welded.

The second assembly movement runs in a plane transverse to the firstassembly direction. So that the driven shaft of the drive elementessentially remains in its position during this movement, it isexpedient if it also runs in the first assembly direction and thefastening elements are arranged essentially on tangents of a circle orconcentric circles around the driven shaft or an axis essentiallyparallel to this. The movement in the second assembly direction is thena rotational movement around the driven shaft or the parallel axis.

The locking element is a longish bolt in cross section, which has adamping layer on its circumference. In ari assembled state it isinserted into an elongated hole in the drive element and in an assemblyopening of the vehicle body. The elongated hole and the assembly openingextend transverse to the second assembly direction, i.e., essentiallyradially to the driven shaft if the movement in the second assemblydirection is a rotational movement around the driven shaft. The dampinglayer in the second assembly direction is adjacent to the edges of theelongated hole or the assembly opening so that in an assembled state thedrive element is vibrationally isolated from the vehicle body and fixedin this position. Play can be provided for tolerance compensation in thedirection transverse to the second assembly direction.

The damping layer is composed of a rubber-elastic material, which issprayed on a harder basis material of the locking element, or can bemounted, clipped and, if necessary, otherwise fastened as an independentcomponent.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, it is proposed thatthe locking element in an assembled state is adjacent on one end with aflange on the drive element and gradually tapers towards its other endso that larger cross section adjacent to the flange is inserted in theelongated hole, while a narrower end engages in an assembly opening ofthe vehicle body. The step is adjacent on the front side to the edge ofthe assembly opening in the vehicle opening. This makes sure that thedrive element is at a secure distance from the vehicle body in the areaof the locking element, and the danger of an acoustic bridge is avoided.In this case, the damping layer can cover the basis material of thelocking element towards the outside both in the area of the elongatedhole as well as in the area of the assembly opening. But it suffices ifthe layer is only provided on the locking element in the area of theassembly opening and provides for vibrational isolation, while, in thearea of the elongated hole, the locking element with the basis material,which is expediently a suitable solid plastic, is directly adjacent tothe edges of the elongated hole. The end with the narrower cross sectionis coated by the damping layer, which preferably features two bulges. Asa result, the locking element is held in the assembly opening of thevehicle body according to a type of clip connection and the vehicle bodypanel is covered on the front side in the edge area of the assemblyopening. The bulges can be formed advantageously by thickenings of thebasis material of the locking element. The thickenings simultaneouslyprovide for a secure fit of the damping layer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the locking element has a springclip closed in the first assembly direction, which has an inner andouter damping layer and engages with the closed end in the assemblyopening of the vehicle body. On the open end, the spring clip isconnected via angled legs with the drive element. With the spring clipthe legs form such an angle that they press the spring clip togetherduring assembly of the drive element in the first assembly direction andthe inner damping layers are adjacent to one another. In the secondassembly direction, the outer damping layers are pressed on the edge ofthe assembly opening. The closed end can form a bulge, which locks withthe edge of the assembly opening.

While, as a rule, several fastening elements are required, one lockingelement suffices for a windshield wiper device. It can be arrangedseparately from the fastening elements. According to one embodiment ofthe invention, the locking element is advantageously combined with afastening element, in that in an assembled state on the side of thefastening element that lies in the rear as viewed in the second assemblydirection bridges the intermediate space between a fastening block andthe edge of the receiving opening. Components are saved and/orsimplified as a result.

In principle, the locking element can be a separate component that isessentially inflexible and is inserted into the intermediate space. Inthis case, the elastic fastening block yields. The locking element isexpediently attached to the fastening block. According to an embodimentof the invention, it is proposed that the locking element be embodied asa locking block, which is arranged in the first assembly direction in anoffset manner relative to the fastening block and can be displaced assoon as the fastening block has reached its final position. The lockingblock can be connected to the fastening block via shear ribs, whicheither yield elastically, tear off or break off during assembly, if thelocking block is displaced relative to the fastening block. In anotherembodiment, the locking block is connected to the fastening block via alongitudinal guide, e.g., a dovetail guide.

During assembly, the locking block is arranged in the first assemblydirection offset from the fastening block so that it can be insertedinto the receiving opening and be moved in the second assemblydirection. As soon as the final position is reached, the locking blockis displaced in the first assembly direction by the displacementdistance so that it now fills up the intermediate space in the receivingopening. So that the locking block cannot detach from the receivingopening, it is expediently locked on the edge of the receiving openingvia locking elements.

Another possibility consists of the locking element being a bar that isflexible towards the first assembly direction. During the first part ofassembly, the bar yields against the first assembly direction andengages in the receiving opening with a locking hook at the end of thesecond assembly movement of the fastening block. The bar expediently hasa limit stop on its free end, which in an assembled state is adjacent toan edge of the receiving opening and limits the locking movement. In anassembled state, the bar runs approximately parallel to the receivingopening. As a result, the bar is stressed essentially in thelongitudinal direction, wherein the bending moments and collapsingforces are low.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional advantages are yielded from the following description of thedrawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in thedrawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerousfeatures in combination. The person skilled in the art will also observeindividual features expediently and combine them into additional,meaningful combinations.

The drawings show:

FIG. 1A schematic depiction of a drive device of a windshield wiperdevice in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 A longitudinal section through a locking element of a drivedevice corresponding to Line II-II in FIG. 1 during assembly.

FIG. 3 A section corresponding to FIG. 2 in an assembled state of thelocking element.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 A variation of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 A variation of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 A fastening element with a fastening block and locking block in ahalf assembled state.

FIG. 9 A fastening element according to FIG. 8 in an assembled state.

FIG. 10 to FIG. 13 A variation of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 in various assemblysteps.

FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 A variation of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 in various assemblysteps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of a windshield wiper device 10 of arear windshield wiper of a motor vehicle. Naturally, the invention is inno way restricted to rear windshield wipers. It can be used withoutdifficulty for front windshield wipers. The windshield wiper device 10comprises an electric motor 12 with a gear mechanism 14, which togetherform a drive unit 16. The drive element 16 features a housing 18, whichis partially made of cast material and has fastening arms 20. Fasteningelements 22 are arranged on the ends of two fastening arms 20, while alocking element 30 is provided on the end of another fastening arm 20.

The fastening elements 22 are essentially comprised of a fastening block76 (FIG. 8), 90 (FIG. 10), 96 (FIG. 14), which is fastened to therespective fastening arm 20, and is manufactured of a vibration-damping,rubber-elastic material. Receiving openings 24 are provided for thefastening elements 22 on a body 26 of the vehicle. As a rule, these areopenings in the body panel or in a holding device that is permanentlyconnected to the body panel.

The receiving openings 24 lie in a plane transverse to a first assemblydirection 64. They can also be arranged distributed to several planesrunning parallel to one another. The fastening blocks 76, 90, 96 areinserted in the receiving openings 24 in the first assembly direction 64and then moved transverse to this in a second assembly direction 32,wherein a slot 78 reaches across the vehicle body 26 on the edge of theassembly opening 24. The first assembly direction 64 expediently liesaxially parallel to a driven shaft 28 of the drive element 16. Thesecond assembly direction 32 can then be a rotational movement aroundthe driven shaft 28, wherein the receiving openings 24 and the fasteningblocks 76, 90, 96 with their slots 78 lie tangentially to circles aroundthe driven shaft 28. With such an arrangement, the alignment andposition of the driven shaft 28 is essentially retained during assembly,and the opening for the driven shaft 28 in the vehicle body 26 can besealed simply.

After the fastening blocks 76, 90, 96 have reached their final positionin the second assembly direction 32; this position is fixed by a lockingelement 30, 52, 66, 92, 98. Only one locking element 30, 52, 66, 92, 98is required for a windshield wiper device. FIG. 1 depicts a lockingelement 30, which is arranged independent of the fastening element 22,and a locking element in the form a locking block 92, which is used incombination the fastening element 22. All locking elements 30, 52, 66,92, 98 can be used individually or in combination with one another.

The locking element 30 (FIG. 2) has a core 38 made of solid material,e.g., plastic. It has a longish cross section, which in the embodimentaccording to FIG. 1 is aligned radially to the driven shaft 28. Thelocking element 30 has a flange 40 to support it on the fastening arm 20in an assembled state. Adjacent to the flange 40 towards the body 26 isa stepped part, whose larger cross section is inserted into elongatedhole 48 of the fastening arm 20 and whose end 50 with a smaller crosssection is inserted into an assembly opening 34 of the vehicle body 26.The edges of the opening 34 of the vehicle body 26 are beaded into acollar 36 in the first assembly direction 64. The core 38 of the lockingelement 30 is surrounded from the end 50 with the smaller cross sectionto the flange 40 with a vibration-damping layer 44 so that the fasteningarm 20 is vibrationally isolated from the vehicle body 26. The layer 44can be sprayed on the core 38 or be formed by a separate component,which is slid over the more solid core 38. Since the more solid core 38has a step 42 in the first assembly direction 64, the layer 44 is alsocorrespondingly stepped so that the step in an assembled state (FIG. 3)is adjacent to the edge of the assembly opening 34 and secures adistance 46 between the fastening arm 20 and the body 26.

The locking element 52 in accordance with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is designedsimilar to the locking element 30. However, in this case the largercross section of the core 38 is directly adjacent to the elongated hole48 without a vibration-damping layer, while the vibration-damping layer54 extends only into the area of the step 42. The end 50 with thereduced cross section has a thickening 60 in the area of the step 42 anda thickening 62 towards the outside. The thickenings 60, 62 cause thevibration-damping layer 54 to form bulges 56, 58 in these areas. Thedistance between the bulges 56, 58 is dimensioned so that the lockingelement 52 clips into the assembly opening 34 of the vehicle body 26 andguarantees an adequate distance 46 between the vehicle body 26 and thefastening arm 20. In addition, the thickenings 60, 62 secure a solid fitof the vibration-damping layer 54, even if this is embodied as aseparated component.

The locking element 66 in accordance with FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 has a springclip 68 with a bent end 75. Adjacent to the free ends of the spring clip68 are angled legs 70, which are connected to the fastening arm 20 in amanner not shown in more detail. The spring clip 68 has avibration-damping layer 72 on the inside and a vibration-dampening layer74 on the outside, which surround the bent end 75. This end is thickenedas compared with the assembly opening 34 so that the locking element 66locks into place on the collar 36 of the assembly opening 34. Duringassembly of the locking element 66 in the first assembly direction 64,the legs 70 go into an extended position, wherein they press the springclip 68 together and the press the inner vibration-damping layers 72against each other.

In the case of the embodiments in FIG. 8 through FIG. 16, the lockingelements 80, 92, 98 are combined with the fastening element 76, 90, and96. In the embodiment in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the locking element embodiedas a locking block 80 is connected to the fastening block 76 via shearribs 82, and namely offset by such an amount vis-á-vis the firstassembly direction 64 that first the fastening block 76, which isfastened on the fastening arm 20, is inserted into the assembly opening24 and can be displaced in the second assembly direction 32 so that theslot 78 can surround the body 26 on the edge of the assembly opening 24.In this position, the locking block 80 is pushed into the assemblyopening 24 in the first assembly direction 64, wherein the shear ribs 82tear off, break off or deform elastically so much that the locking block80 can fill up the intermediate space between the fastening block 76 andan edge 88 of the receiving opening 24 (FIG. 9). In doing, so thelocking block is held and secured on the edge 88 by a limit stop 86 andlocking hooks 84.

FIG. 10 through FIG. 13 show a similar embodiment. In this case, alocking block 92 is displaceably guided in the first assembly direction64 into a fastening block 90 via a longitudinal guide 94. The fasteningblock 90 is fastened on the fastening arm 20 and has a slot 78. In afirst assembly step (FIG. 11), the fastening block 90 is inserted intothe assembly opening 24 until the upper flank 104 of the slot 78 isadjacent to the side facing the body 26. In a further step of theprocedure, the fastening block 90 with the locking block 92 is rotatedin the second assembly direction 32 until the final position (FIG. 12)is reached and the slot 78 surrounds the body 26 on the edge of thereceiving opening 24. In another assembly step, the locking block 92 isdisplaced in the longitudinal guide 94 in the first assembly direction64 until the limit stop 86 is adjacent to the body 26 and one of thelocking hooks 84 secures the position of the opposite side of thevehicle body 26.

In the embodiment in FIG. 14 through FIG. 16, a bar 98 serves as thelocking element, which bar is arranged so that it is flexible towardsthe first assembly direction 64 on the side of the fastening block 96facing away from the slot 78. In this case, the bar 98 can bepermanently inserted in the fastening block 96 made of elastic materialand the resiliency can be brought about by the elasticity of thefastening block 96. Another possibility is that the bar 98 itself havesufficient elasticity in the first assembly direction 64 or be connectedin an articulated manner to the fastening block 96. The fastening block96 is inserted into the receiving opening 24 of the vehicle body 26 in afirst assembly step in the first assembly direction 64 until the upperflank 104 of the slot 78 is adjacent to the side facing the vehicle body26. In doing so, the bar 98, which is adjacent to the vehicle body 26with an angled locking hook 100, yields towards the first assemblydirection 64. In a further assembly step in the second assemblydirection, the edge of the assembly opening 24 is slid into the slot 78.If the fastening block reaches its final position in the second assemblydirection 32 (FIG. 16), the bar 98 snaps into the receiving opening 24with a locking hook 100, wherein a limit stop 102 on the free end of thebar 98 ends up adjacent to the vehicle body 26. In this position, thebar 98 bridges the distance between the fastening block 96 and the edge88 of the receiving opening 24. In this case, it is expedient that thebar 98 lies in a plane as near as possible to the receiving opening 24so that the bar 98 is not stressed in the longitudinal direction by anyappreciable bending moments.

1. Windshield wiper device (10), for a motor vehicle, with at least onedrive element (16) that can be fastened to the vehicle body (26) andthat has a driven shaft (28) and at least two axially rigid fasteningelements (22), which engage in receiving openings (24) on the vehiclebody (26) and are provided with at least one damping element (76, 90,96) for damping mechanical vibrations, characterized in that the dampingelements (76, 90, 96) are fastening blocks made of a rubber-elasticmaterial and are fastened to the drive element (16), that said dampingelements are provided with slots (78) and are arranged in such a mannerthat they can be inserted in a first assembly direction (64) in thereceiving openings (24) and prompted by a movement in a second assemblydirection (32) transverse to the first direction the damping elementsreach across the first edge (88) of the receiving opening (24) with aslot (78), and that a locking element (30, 52, 66, 80, 92, 98) securesthe final position in the second assembly direction (32).
 2. Windshieldwiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flank (104)of the slot (78), which flank lies in the rear in the first assemblydirection, (64) projects further than the other flank in the secondassembly direction (32) and forms a limit stop.
 3. Windshield wiperdevice (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fasteningelements (22) are each arranged essentially on tangents of a circlearound the driven shaft (28) or an axis essentially parallel to thisshaft and the movement in the second assembly direction (32) is arotational movement around the driven shaft (28) or the axis. 4.Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe locking element (30, 52) is a bolt which has a damping layer (44,54) on its circumference and in an assembled state grips through anelongated hole (48) in the drive element (16) and an assembly opening(34) of the vehicle body (26), wherein the elongated hole (48) and theassembly opening (34) extend transverse to the second assembly direction(32).
 5. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 4,characterized in that the locking element (30, 52) in an assembled stateis adjacent on one end with a flange (40) on the drive element (16) andgradually tapers towards its other end (50) so that a step (42) isadjacent to the edge of the assembly opening (34).
 6. Windshield wiperdevice (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the dampinglayer (54) of the locking element (52) extends only from the free end tothe step (42) and has bulges (56, 58) on its ends.
 7. Windshield wiperdevice (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the bulges (56,58) are formed by thickenings (60, 62) of the basis material of thelocking element (52).
 8. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim1, characterized in that the locking element (66) has a spring clip(68), which is connected via angled legs (70) on its free ends to thedrive element (16), wherein the spring clip (68) has an inner and outerdamping layer (72, 74) and is pressed together during assembly in thefirst assembly direction (64) by the legs (70).
 9. Windshield wiperdevice (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring clip(68) has a thickening on its bent end (75), with which it locks on theedge (36) of the assembly opening (34) of the vehicle body (26). 10.Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe locking element (80, 92, 98) is combined with a fastening element(22) and in an assembled state on its side that lies in the rear asviewed in the second assembly direction (32) bridges the intermediatespace between the fastening block (76, 90, 96) and the receiving opening(24).
 11. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 10,characterized in that the locking element is embodied as a locking block(80, 92), which can be displaced in the first assembly direction (64)relative to the fastening block (76, 90).
 12. Windshield wiper device(10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking block (80)is connected to the fastening block (76) via shear ribs (82). 13.Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 10, characterized inthat the locking block (92) is connected to the fastening block (90) viaa longitudinal guide (94).
 14. Windshield wiper device (10) according toclaim 11, characterized in that the locking block (80, 92) has lockingelements (84, 86) towards the edge (88) of the receiving opening (24).15. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 10, characterized inthat the locking element (98) is a bar (98) that is flexible towards thefirst assembly direction (64), which locks into the receiving openings(24) with a locking hook (100) at the end of the second assemblymovement (32).
 16. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 15,characterized in that the bar (98) has a limit stop (102) on its freeend and in an assembled state runs approximately parallel to thereceiving opening (24).
 17. Windshield wiper device (10) according toclaim 1, characterized in that the basis material of the locking element(30, 52, 66, 80, 92, 98) is a largely inflexible plastic.